Decorah-posten., 1887-09-14
Taa Opforbrins bioietter ri Der Bas
flor @s9ens Gale peb 9ecorab Smith
tiltes Gabninssfeit 5rebas Gften:

tites Gabninssfeit 5rebas Gften:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
! have been requested to say a few words
on this location, this being the formal
opening Of the 14th year of the existence of
DEBORAH Institute. | do the mere readily
comply with such request because | am
particularly interested in the school and its
work; not indeed for this reason alone,
that it is an institution of learning. whose
object it is to enlighten the minds of our
young people and fill them with knowledge
and thus aid in making them better men
and women and more useful citizens; but
especially for the reason, that as an Amer
lean institution, governed in an American
spirit, with a full corps of American teach
ers, the DEBORAH Institute has succeeded in
attracting a larger number of young men
and women of the Norwegian nationality.
than any other American school known to
me. am a Norwegian, and | hope to be
pardoned for dwelling a little on this
feature of the school. 1t is not necessary
TO restrict the comparison to the American
schools alone. We have a number of Nor
wegian schools in this country; and with
out going deeply into statistics, | can make
the statement that for the last 3 or 4 years
the DEBORAH Institute has been attended
by a larger number of Norwegian students
than any one of the purely Norwegian
schools in the country. | do not say this to
cast a shadow on the schools of nv own
people; but justice to Mr.. Breckenridge
and his associates in the work demands,
that the truth be known. And it is not
difficult to ascertain the reason for this
strange fact. What a young man or young
woman, just waking up to the realities of
life, find that it Unnecessary for a citizen of
the United States to have, Is what | would
term a thorough American education. And
our young people readily recognize that
such education is more easily acquired in
an American school than in a Norwegian
The early emigrants from Norway carried
with them across the ocean a strong
love for Learning, and they have given
proof of it in this, that they from the very
first have been u~ntiring in their effort to
provide for the education of their children.
But they brought with them also a strong
love for their fatherland and for every
thing that is Norwegian; and they un-
doubtedly said with one of Norways noted
poets: seq elIfer alt, Tom er Rate nprSf
ira fpltelinet til iilo % torIf". And the
schools, that they erected, though giving
their scholars a solid basis in general learn.
ing did not succeed in putting any definit
American stamp on them, and gave at frs
but very little proof of that though of the
old spirit they had been transplanted to
new soil. We have now, it is true, some
I schools, that have passed into the hands o
a younger generation, and my character
cation here does not apply to them.
Now our young people, as | have said
soon recognized the necessity of bein!
' taught such things especially, as it is re
quired that an educated American SHOULD
{ know: and in this respect our American
schools offered the best advantages. Still
, there are many at this day, who being de
ficient in their knowledge and use of tn
= English language, understand. that it is o
great help to them to be guided in thei
studies by one. who understands and cal
+ speak both the Norwegian and Englisl
language. And just in this point is to b
sought, according to my belief, the grea
success, DEBORAH Institute has had thes
I many years. In Mr.. Breckenridge tn
school has had a teacher, combining il
him many of the qualities necessary in
teacher for just this class Of student.
Mr.. Breckenridge is at heart, or as we sa
r in Norwegian, Il iino us ltinb1, an Amer
can; but at the same time he is more of
Norwegian than n but slightly acquain'
ed with him would immagine.
l. Students of DEBORAH Institute! ! hav
,e but very little to say to you. You are a
advanced in age and understandin!
You are no longer children, who hav
come here simply in obedience to a con
y mand from your parents. You have bee
a~ctuated by a strong craving for know.
edge; you have come to seek ths
knowledge here; and you have come wit
1 the intention to work diligently for it. No,
you have the opportunity; your time
I your own; you alone are responsible fc
e the use Of it; then make the most of
Il while the opportunity lasts. A saying G
% MIR. Talmadge occurs to me. Beginnin
re one of his lectures he said: .Leaving I
the Darwinists to answer the question